This week’s menu planning is brought to you by gratitude – for being back in quasi-warm California after a week in the arctic chill of NYC! New York, you are a beautiful yet frosty wench.
Because it’s been so brisk outside, this is a week of healthy comfort food. These recipes were chosen because there is nice overlap between many of them, so by the end of the week you should have used up everything, especially the fresh sage, parsley, and lemons, those weird hangers-on that usually languish and die at the bottoms of refrigerators. This is why we menu plan.
Another thing to remember as you’re cooking this week – don’t be scared to make substitutions! If you’d rather make the meatballs with ground beef, go for it. If you don’t have a red onion, use a yellow one. Would rather spinach instead of kale? Totally fine. People often get scared to deviate from the recipe, but that’s how we learn!
Plus, if it looks and smells great when you’re done, you’ll likely still have something delicious for dinner.
Sunday – Lemon Rosemary Chicken Noodle Soup http://damndelicious.net/2014/04/25/lemon-chicken-orzo-soup/
Monday – Turkey Saltimboca Meatballs http://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/2014/10/turkey-saltimbocca-meatballs-low-carb-gluten-free.html#7CwbaK1lrFR3zPDC.32
Tuesday – Winter Panzanella http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2006/12/holding-the-gray-salt/
Wednesday – Zuppa Toscana http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/easy-zuppa-toscana-recipe/
Thursday – Leftovers! Clean out those fridges!
Friday – Pan-seared halibut and warm bean salad http://www.marthastewart.com/868515/halibut-warm-bean-hash#Quick%20Fish%20and%20Shellfish%20Recipes%7C/274502/quick-fish-and-shellfish-recipes/@center/276948/dinner-tonight%7C868515
Saturday – Date night! Take someone you love out to dinner!
Grocery List:
Kale
Lemons – 3
Fresh rosemary – 1 sprig
Celery
Carrots – large bag!
Bag of white onions
Garlic
Fresh sage
Fingerling potatoes (the tiny ones!) – small bag
Butternut squash – 1 squash or a pre-peeled packet from TJ’s
Brussel sprouts – 1/2 lb, or pre-quartered in a package from TJ’s
Parsley – 1 bunch
Head of cauliflower
Gnocchi
Small bag of orzo
Loaf of fresh bread – leave it out the night before making panzanella to get crusty!
Hot Italian sausage – 1 lb
Small pack of pancetta
Boneless skinless chicken thighs – 1 lb
Ground turkey – 1 lb
Halibut or cod filets – as many as you need
Jarred red peppers
Cannellini beans
Almond flour, if trying to be gluten free. The meatballs call for it, but you can just use regular flour if you’d like…
Half and half – 1/2 pint
Milk – 1 pint
*As always, this list omits things like chicken stock, olive oil, and spices that the average home cook has on hand. Double check before you shop!
